54th Annual Western Navajo Fair brings community together in Tuba City

By Donovan Quintero and Krista Allen
Navajo Times

TUBA CITY – The 54th Annual Western Navajo Fair kicked off last Thursday, drawing crowds from across the Navajo Nation to celebrate culture, community, and creativity at what has become the largest fair in the Navajo Nation.
Spanning over four vibrant days, this year’s event bustled with excitement, attracting families and visitors eager to immerse themselves in festivities.

As the sun rose on opening day, Oct. 17, children flooded the fairgrounds, their laughter echoing as they dashed to enjoy the carnival rides and games. Attendees were greeted with various attractions, including a free skateboard and helmet giveaway, highlighting the fair’s commitment to youth engagement and safety.

“I brought my grandkids over, they wanted skateboards,” said Sally Tohannie from Tonalea-Red Lake, Arizona. “They even got autographs, which is good. Thanks to Buu Nygren for that.”

Tohannie’s grandchildren are Taylor Willie, Noah Lansing, and Nakoda Faith Buck. “It’s exciting, they love it,” she said as she carried their new $200 skateboard and helmet packages for them.

Informational booths provided resources for health and wellness, while local vendors showcased an array of delicious fair foods and refreshing drinks that delighted the senses.

The fair truly came alive on Saturday with its renowned parade down, a cherished tradition that celebrates Navajo culture and community spirit. Main Street and Edgewater Drive were lined with enthusiastic spectators, young and old, who cheered as colorful floats, dancing groups, and cultural displays passed by.

While the weather presented challenges, with gusty winds and intermittent rain showers, the festive spirit remained unbroken. Many attendees donned ponchos and enjoyed the fair activities regardless of the elements.

Among the fair’s highlights was the Wellness Warrior Walk & Run Series organized by the Navajo Special Diabetes Program. Held at the fairgrounds on Oct. 16, this event encouraged fitness and healthy living in the community, drawing participants of all ages. The walk brought out a diverse crowd – children sprinted alongside seniors, and some even embraced the challenge of running. Miss Navajo Nation Ranisha Begay participated enthusiastically, embodying the spirit of community involvement.
As the fair approached its conclusion, excitement reached a peak with the highly anticipated performance by legendary rapper Ice Cube. Taking the stage at the Tuba City Amphitheater, he captivated a sold-out crowd, delivering an electrifying set that had fans on their feet.

The 54th Annual Western Navajo Fair not only provided entertainment and excitement but also fostered a sense of unity among attendees. With its blend of cultural traditions, modern fun, and a focus on community health, the fair demonstrated the strength and resilience of the Navajo people.

The success of this year’s event signifies that the Western Navajo Fair will continue to be a cornerstone of community celebration and cultural pride for years to come.

Youngest Western fair manager

Plans for the next Western Navajo Fair start immediately after the previous one ends. This year, Chantel Yazzie, 29, coordinated it all.

When the former Western Navajo Fair manager, Mike Sixkiller, left after nine years of coordinating the award-winning fair, Yazzie became the new – and youngest – fair manager in Western history, bringing rapper Ice Cube to the Tuba City Amphitheater.
She is known as “Chandler,” a nickname given to her by her junior high softball coach. Sixkiller has mentioned that she is 100 percent Tuba City, her place of birth and upbringing, and a “Warrior” who graduated from Tuba City High in 2013. She is so rooted in Tuba City that she enjoys a Slush Puppie – or a piccadilly snow cone – and a pickle while taking her Jeep Wrangler off-roading. She is the eldest of three sisters.

Yazzie is the granddaughter of Margaret and Frank Goldtooth Jr., one of the founding members of the Western Navajo Fair and a key figure in the development of the Tuba City Community Center. Community service has always been in her blood, but it took several years after high school to realize that.

After a short-lived attempt at becoming a YouTube star by posting her “rez adventures” online, she realized she needed a job and applied to the workforce program in 2017. She was placed at Tónaneesdizí Chapter, where she worked at the front office completing daily tasks for six months. One day, she was asked to help at the fair office because Sixkiller’s assistant at the time had left for college.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Yazzie said. “For the first few weeks at the fair office, Mike wouldn’t really talk to me. He would give me a list of tasks to do every morning and I’d get to work.”

Her initial impression of working at the fair office was that there are a lot of “moving parts,” and she didn’t know it would be hard work. But she quickly progressed from filing papers and doing mundane tasks to helping plan community events and managing all the marketing platforms for the Western Navajo Fair, including its website, social media, and advertising.

In 2018, she played a pivotal role in planning the 50th Annual Western Navajo Fair, the “fair that changed the game” when the new amphitheater was introduced. On stage that year were the Drifters, Platters, Coasters, David Lee Murphy, and rapper and singer Nelly.

Yazzie applied for a permanent position at the Western Navajo Fair office after completing the workforce program in 2019. She became in charge of all marketing related to the fair and events in Tuba City. Additionally, she helped design and purchase materials for the new rodeo grounds and assisted the chapter in acquiring heavy equipment. Yazzie was also one of the main advocates for bringing a drag show to the Western fair.

The Western Navajo Fair is a “highly-anticipated event,” according to the Western fair staff.

“One thing that separates our fair from other fairs such as your state fair (and) the Coconino County Fair, it’s very culturally driven,” Yazzie explained. “We really highlight Indigenous artists and performers at a cultural night. We’re always trying to one-up the past year.”

This year, Yazzie and her staff implemented seating and a pathway that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act at the amphitheater and the fairgrounds, respectively.

“That’s to help our elderly and disability community,” she said. “We heard their voices and their concerns about how important it was for them to be able to get through the terrain here.”

Planning the annual Western Navajo Fair takes a year, said Yazzie. It takes a lot of coordination and advertising.

“There are things always changing,” Yazzie said. “We have meetings weekly. It’s just to make sure everyone’s on track and things are getting done.

“This year is my first year and it’s a new role for me,” she continued. “Previously, I was the media and marketing specialist. So, it’s a little bit of a change for me in regards to attending weekly meetings with my (event) coordinators and giving them the information that they need.

She added, “Mr. Sixkiller did an amazing job during his reign. And I’m happy that I was able to learn from him in regards to how to host a fair. I definitely feel like if anybody is to throw it to the (level) that he did it, it would definitely be me.”

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